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Chen to follow Britton, return Wednesday

Chen to follow Britton, return Wednesday

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Chen leaves with injury 0:34

5/12/13: Wei-Yin Chen leaves with an injury after inducing a groundout to end the fifth inning against the Twins

By Brittany Ghiroli and Derek Wetmore
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles will activate Wei-Yin Chen from the disabled list to start on Wednesday, with fellow lefty Zach Britton slated to pitch Tuesday's game, both of which will be against the Texas Rangers.

The decision allows Chen, who made his second rehab start on Thursday, to get an extra day of rest, and temporarily gives Baltimore a six-man rotation.

"We can make some adjustments depending on what we do with our bullpen," manager Buck Showalter said of the rotation this week, which will have only Monday's starter Scott Feldman pitch twice. "Don't want to get guys too far away, but want them to get the benefit [of extra rest]. Because of the four days [for the All-Star break], it allows us to do whatever we want to do post-break. Everybody will have had rest to put them in the mix."

The Orioles open the second half on the road with a series in Texas and then Kansas City and will look at matchups and ballparks before setting the rotation. Showalter joked he'd threaten to have guys pitch in the Minor Leagues during the break -- which is what Chris Tillman did last year -- although he acknowledged it could be a real possibility in certain cases.

"It depends on the need of what our bullpen is between now and then and if can benefit from it," Showalter said "And where they slot out second half. There's some days and mathematics involved there, you got to keep in mind [when optioning a player]."

Chen will be followed by Miguel Gonzalez to cap the four-game series against the Rangers, with Tillman and Jason Hammel pitching against the Blue Jays, followed by Feldman.

"It fit pretty well if you look at everybody's [schedule], knowing how they fit not only with the teams they are pitching against, but also not too far away from pitching, but also getting the benefit of an extra day here and there," Showalter said. "Because that's not going to be there shortly. Obviously we are not going to be able to carry six starters the second half."